Wall decor is one of the best ways to add character to your home. If you’ve collected paintings on your travels or have meaningful items you want to frame, there are two options: purchase readymade frames or invest in custom framing.
We asked Julia Lovett, head of marketing at Framebridge, to share everything you need to know about the service, which isn’t reserved for expensive art or family heirlooms. “If you love it—whether it’s kids’ art or fine art—it deserves to be framed,” says Lovett.
While readymade frames provide a quick and inexpensive framing option, there’s no substitute for custom framing. Professional framing services use high-quality materials and expert mounting techniques to ensure the utmost protection of your piece so it lasts a lifetime. Additionally, custom framing elevates your artwork—even if it’s “just” a sentimental collection of movie theater tickets.
If you’re wondering whether custom framing is worth the investment, here’s what an expert says you should know.
Julia Lovett is the head of marketing at Framebridge, an online framing company.
Dylan Chandler
What to Know About Getting Art Framed
Custom framing is the ultimate way to elevate any piece. “The framing can also drastically change the look and feel of a piece,” Lovett says. Some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to custom framing are about where you can get it done, how it works, and what the cost is.
Let’s start with where to get a piece framed. You can get something framed at a brick-and-mortar framing shop, a craft store, or an online framing service. All of these options will offer design help when it comes to frame, mat, and mount selections. As for how it works, you will need to bring in your piece if you’re getting it framed in person, or upload an image of it or send it in if you are using an online framing service.
Next, you will need to decide on a mat style, mount style, type of glass, and frame itself. The framers will then custom-mount and frame your piece and return it to you ready to hang on the wall.
The cost will vary depending on the size of the piece and the selections you make, however, you can expect to pay significantly more for custom framing than you would for a readymade frame given the higher quality materials, expert craftsmanship, and made-to-order nature of the service.
Custom Framing vs. Readymade Frames
Lovett says the main difference between a custom and DIY framing job comes down to two things: the quality of the materials and the mounting. She shares that a professional framing service such as Framebridge offers the highest quality materials which include solid wood molding, acid-free mats, and acrylic with UV protection. All this is to ensure that your pieces look their best when you hang them on the wall and are protected for many years to come.
“Custom framing secures and protects your piece, so that you can display and enjoy it for years to come.” —Julia Lovett
In addition to high-quality materials, it’s the mounting that makes the difference. “If you’ve ever tried to frame something at home with a readymade frame you’ll notice that the artwork is never perfectly flat; It might droop or sag in the frame and you might see wavy ripples in your piece,” Lovett says.
Brie Williams
Matting and Mounting Options
The frame itself is not the only thing you’ll need to decide on when getting a piece custom framed. There are a variety of matting and mounting options you can choose from which can enhance and completely change the look of the piece.
Choosing a Mat
Matting refers to whether you layer a mat over the piece or not. Practically speaking, a mat forms a barrier between the artwork and glass, serving as an additional protective layer. However, it also plays a big role visually. As an extra layer between the frame and the art, it highlights the piece and draws your eyes to it, while also adding depth and dimension.
When you opt for custom framing, you can choose the color and width of the mat, as well as the artwork’s position within the mat. And, you can even double-mat a piece for a more traditional look. Alternately, you can forgo a mat altogether and go with a more minimalist look. In this case, if the artwork has a border around it, you can choose to show it or not. Whether you add a mat (and glass) also depends on the medium of the piece—a small watercolor painting may look great with a mat, while an oil painting may only need a frame.
Choosing a Mounting Style
There are also options when it comes to the mounting style when you get something custom-framed. “One of the biggest benefits of custom framing is that we use specialized mounting techniques to ensure your piece is beautifully mounted to be flat and secure in the frame for the long run,” Lovett says. A great alternative to matting a piece of art the traditional way is float mounting it, which in essence is a reversed look. The piece of art is raised over the mat, creating a sense of depth and dimension. You can choose this mounting style when framing a flat piece such as a photograph behind glass, or if you’re framing a canvas, in which case there’s no mat but a subtle gap between the canvas and the frame for added visual impact.
Benefits of Custom Framing
The benefits of custom framing are both practical and visual. While the quality and variety of readymade frames have significantly improved in recent years and the frames present a more budget-friendly alternative, there’s no way to replicate the quality of craftsmanship of custom framing. Between the high-quality materials and expert mounting, the investment in custom framing will last you a lifetime. “Custom framing secures and protects your piece so that you can display and enjoy it for years to come,” Lovett says.
Visually speaking, there’s nothing that elevates a piece of art like a custom frame. Low-quality materials and improper mounting will cheapen and take away from a piece, while beautiful framing has the ability to make it look extra special. Additionally, getting something framed allows you to get creative and gives you the power to change the look of the piece to fit your space and design style. “The same piece could look modern in a clean black gallery style frame or traditional in a more ornate, classical gold frame,” Lovett explains.
Werner Straube
What Can You Get Framed?
The kinds of things you can get framed go well beyond original art. “We frame everything you’d expect like original art on paper and canvas, prints, posters, photographs, newspapers, diplomas, awards, certificates, maps, jerseys, and more; but we also frame lots of items you might not expect like objects and textiles,” Lovett says. Her philosophy is that if you love it, you should frame it.
Wall decor is one of the best ways to personalize your home and add character to the space, which is where framing items that are meaningful to you comes in. “Some of the many unexpected items we’ve framed include belt buckles, baby booties, matchbook collections, jigsaw puzzles, friendship bracelets, chopsticks, currency, and more,” Lovett shares.
